Oh, I found this one too- I think I could draft my own pattern for the *male* corset with these instructions because it doesn't have bust gores and I can use lacing on the front: www.waisted.com (It starts with a duct tape model of the body. You draft the pattern from that.)

To answer CTM's question... just go to Home Depot and look for them, they come in a bag marked "cable ties." I BELIEVE you have the right thing in mind, but I'm not sure.

I think they probably come in different widths/thicknesses, because housebuilders would need bigger cable ties than your average person stringing cable through their living room... I think... but I do know plenty of people who have used them, and they seemed pretty happy.